Umbrella runner assembly



June 28, 1966 1.. G. TARTAGLIA UMBRELLA RUNNER ASSEMBLY Filed May 25, 1964 mvcu'ron G. TARTAG LIA ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,258,021 UMBRELLA RUNNER ASEMBLY Louis G. Tartaglia, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to S. W. Evans 8; Sons, llnc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May 25, 1964, Ser. No. 369,922 6 Claims. (Cl. 135 i3) The present invention relates generally to umbrella runner assemblies and more particularly to a novel runner assembly of a type wherein the runner locking means is contained wholly within the runner assembly.

Umbrella runners are commonly locked in position by means of spring-loaded catches extending from slots in a hollow umbrella shaft, one catch normally being positioned near the umbrella handle to lock the umbrella in the closed position and a second catch being located adjacent the umbrella notch to maintain the runner in the open umbrella position. This well-known catch type arrangement, although in widespread use, suffers from a number of drawbacks. The catches are difficult to manipulate, particularly in releasing the runner from the open position. In addition, the catch slots weaken the umbrella shaft which must be of relatively thin tubular construction. The catch type arrangement, furthermore, is expensive to manufacture because of the difiiculty of installing the spring-loaded catches within the hollow shaft. Finally, the catches cannot be used with some solid umbrella shafts, precluding employment of such desirable shaft materials as Fiberglas and similar synthetics.

The present invention eliminates the common catch arrangement and utilizes a torsion spring within the runner assembly which, in its relaxed condition, tightly envelops the umbrella shaft to lock the assembly in the desired position. Although the use of springs has heretofore been suggested for such purpose, previous spring arrangements have not been satisfactory. A major problem unsolved in prior devices was the expansion of the spring coils to permit free sliding movement of the spring along the shaft. Since the axially outermost coils of the spring to which the runner elements are attached characteristically expand radially to a pronounced degree upon opposed rotation thereof before the initial radial expansion of the inner spring coils, a considerable rotation would be required to free the spring for movement along the shaft. Operation of previously suggested devices would thus require extensive twisting of the runner with respect to the shaft. In addition, the outer coils of the spring would be subject to such extreme radial deformation as to possibly become permanently distorted.

'To overcome the above-recited problems of the prior art, it is a primary object of the present invention toprovide an umbrella runner assembly of a type which may be selectively positioned on an umbrella shaft by a simple twist of the runner body.

A further object of the invention is to provide an umbrella runner assembly which automatically locks in position upon an umbrella shaft upon release of the runner body.

Another object of the invention is to provide an umbrella runner locking arrangement which may be used with a solid umbrella shaft.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an umbrella runner which may be selectively locked in position at any point along the umbrella shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide an umbrella runner of a simple construction which is economical to manufacture and assemble.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed dewith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a partly opened umbrella employing a runner assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the runner assembly along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the manner in which the runner head is secured to the runner body;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view partly broken away showing the torsion spring employed in the runner assembly;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the runner body; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective View of the runner head.

Referring to FIG. 1, an umbrella 10 is shown having a runner assembly 12 in accordance with the present invention. The umbrella 10 is, in other respects, of customary construction including a shaft 14 having a handle 16 at the lower end thereof and a decorative and protective tip 18 at its upper extremity. Adjacent the tip 18 is the notch 20 from which pivotally extend ribs 22 supporting the fabric 24. The ribs 22 are actuated by the stretchers 26, the lower ends of which are pivotally attached to the runner head 28 of the runner assembly 12 by a'securing ring 30 coacting with outwardly directed tangs 31 in a conventional manner as shown in FIG. 2.

The runner assembly 12 is comprised essentially of three components, the runner head 28 shown in FIG. 8, the runner body 32 shown in FIG. 7, and the torsion spring 34 shown in FIG. 6. The runner head includes an outwardly inclined upper portion 35 from which extend the tangs 31, and a narrow tubular central portion 36 having a bore size suitable for sliding coaction along the umbrella shaft 14. A lower relatively thick-walled cylindrical portion 38 of the runner head includes a hole 42 adjacent the central bore thereof and a circumferential slot 44 extending approximately around the periphery thereof, as shown most clearly in FIG. 8. With the runner head 28 positioned on the umbrella shaft as shown in FIG. 2, the torsion spring 34 is positioned around the shaft and engaged with the r-unnerhead such that the vertically directed upper spring leg48 is engaged within the hole 42 of the runner head cylindrical portion 38.

The runner body 32 is adapted to enclose the spring and lower cylindrical portion 38 to the runner head and includes an upper cylindrical chamber 49 defined by an inner annular wall surface 50 and a lower spring chamber 52 defined by the annular inner wall surface 54. Both said chambers are concentric with the bore 56 in the lower portion of the runner body which is adapted to engage the umbrella shaft in close-fitting sliding relationship. Extending axially below the spring chamber are a plurality of spaced holes 58 closely adjacent the bore 56 adapted to receive the lower spring leg 60 of the torsion spring 34. Although a single hole would be adequate for this purpose, a plurality of holes is preferred to facilitate assembly of the device for reasons which will be presently apparent.

The runner head 28, runner body 32, and spring 34 are maintained in assembled relationship by the lock ring 62 which is seated within annular groove 64 of the runner body 32 for engagement with the cylindrical portion 38 of the runner head.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 7, a cog 66 extends from the inner annular wall surface 50 into the upper cylindrical chamber 49 of the runner body for coaction with the slot 44 of the runner head 28. Rotation of the runner body 32 with respect to the runner head 28 is thus limited by the cog to the angular extent of the slot and means must be provided to insure release of the spring from the shaft upon such limited rotation of the runner body.

For assembly, the runner head 28 is placed on the shaft 14 and the torsion spring 34, which in its relaxed condition has an internal diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the shaft, is forced onto the shaft with the upper spring leg 48 thereof placed in the hole 42 in the runner head 28. The runner body 32 is then placed on the shaft and rotated into a position such that the cog 66 is adjacent the end of the slot 44 away from which the runner body 32 must be rotated to expand the spring. The runner body is then advanced axially into the assembled position with the lower spring leg 60 passing into whichever hole 58 is closest to the desired runner body position. Assembly is completed by the insertion of the lock ring 62 in the groove 64. The desirability of a plurality of holes 58 to receive the lower spring leg 60 becomes apparent in view of the described assembly technique.

For operation, the knurled outer surface 68 of the runner body is grasped and twisted to expand the spring coils and permit movement of the runner assembly along the shaft. The runner head 28, due to the attachment of the stretchers 26, cannot rotate about the shaft. When the runner assembly has been moved to the desired position upon the shaft, release of the runner body 32 permits the spring to return to a locking engagement with the shaft and thus locks the assembly in place.

Of considerable importance in permitting the unlocking of the torsion spring with a minimal rotational travel of the runner body is the dimensioning of the spring chamber such that only a very small clearance is provided between the locked spring coils and the spring chamber wall 54. When the runner body is rotated to unlock the spring, the proximity of the chamber walls prevents undue expansion of the end springs coils and forces a uniform and immediate expansion of all of the spring coils thereby providing a quick release of the runner assembly from the shaft and preventing disarrangement of the spring coils which might result if uneven expansion thereof were permitted.

A stop pin 70 extends from the shaft near the notch 20 to limit travel of the runner assembly and indicate the fully raised umbrella position. The umbrella may be locked in any desired intermediate position as may be convenient for drying purposes or for movement through doorways or narrow passages.

Operation of the runner assembly requires little effort and eliminates the hazards of the catch-type umbrellas since the runner body upon which pressure is applied to counteract the stretching of the umbrella fabric is also the element controlling the locking of the umbrella frame in place. There is thus no danger of pinched fingers, there being only one actuating element, the release of which automatically locks the assembly in place on the shaft.

Manifestly, changes in details and construction can be effected by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in and limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An umbrella runner assembly having self-contained locking means for adjustably securing the assembly to an umbrella shaft comprising a runner head adapted for sliding passage along the shaft, a cylindrically coiled torsion spring in overlying engagement with said shaft, said spring in a relaxed condition having an internal diameter smaller than the diameter of the shaft, a runner body adapted for sliding passage on the shaft, a lower cylindrical portion of said runner head, means for securing a first end coil of said spring to said lower cylindrical portion of said runner head, said runner body adapted to overlie said spring and said lower cylindrical portion of said runner head, said runner body having a cylindrical spring chamber adapted to overlie said spring in closely spaced relation thereto, means on said runner body for securing a second end coil of said spring thereto, and means associated with said runner head and runner body limiting rotation of said runner body with respect to said runner head, said latter means including a circumferential slot extending partially around the periphery of the lower cylindrical portion of said runner head, and a cog on said runner body in coacting relation with said slot, rotation of said runner body effecting an expansion of said spring to release said spring from the shaft and permit sliding adjustment of the runner assembly thereon, said closely spaced spring chamber providing a uniform expansion of the coils of said spring.

2. An umbrella runner assembly having self-contained locking means for adjustably securing the assembly to an umbrella shaft comprising a runner head adapted for sliding passage along the shaft, said runner head including means for attachment of umbrella stretchers thereto for actuation of the umbrella ribs, a cylindrically coiled torsion spring in overlying engagement with said shaft adjacent said runner head, said spring in a relaxed condition having an internal diameter smaller than the diameter of the shaft, means securing a first end coil of said spring to said runner head, a runner body adapted for sliding passage on the shaft and having a cylindrical spring chamber adapted to overlie said spring in closely spaced relation thereto, means securing a second end coil of said spring to said runner body, means connecting said runner head with said runner body for unitary axial movement thereof, and means limiting rotation of said runner 'body with respect to said runner head, said latter means comprising a slot in said runner head coacting with a cog on said runner body, rotation of said runner body with respect to said runner head effecting an expansion of said spring to release said spring from the shaft and permit sliding adjustment of the runner assembly thereon, said closely spaced spring chamber providing a uniform expansion of the coils of said spring.

3. An umbrella runner assembly having self-containe 1 locking means for securing the assembly to an umbrella shaft comprising a runner head adapted for sliding passage along the shaft, said runner head having an upper outwardly inclined portion having means thereon for pivotal attachment of umbrella stretchers, said runner head having a narrow tubular central portion having a bore therethrough adapted for sliding coaction with the umbrella shaft, said runner head having a lower thickwalled cylindrical portion having a circumferential slotextending partially around the periphery thereof, a cylindrically coiled torsion spring in overlying engagement with said shaft, said spring in a relaxed condition having an internal diameter smaller than the diameter of the shaft, said spring being disposed on said shaft adjacent said runner head, means securing the upper end coil of said spring to said runner head, a runner body adapted for sliding passage on the shaft adapted to overlie said spring and the lower cylindrical portion of the runner head, said runner body including an upper cylindrical chamber adapted to overlie said lower cylindrical portion of said runner head, said runner body including a lower cylindrical spring chamber adjacent said upper cylindrical chamber, said spring chamber adapted to overlie said spring in closely spaced relation thereto, means securing the lower end coil of said spring to said runner body, and a cog on said runner body extending into the upper cylindrical chamber thereof for coaction with said circumferential slot in said lower cylindrical portion of said runner head to limit rotation of said runner body with respect to said runner head, and means connecting said runner head with said runner body for unitary axial movement thereof, rotation of said runner body with respect to said runner head effecting expansion of said spring to release said spring from the shaft and permit sliding adjustment of the runner assembly thereon, said closely spaced spring chamber providing a uniform expansion of the coils of said spring.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 3, wherein the upper and lower end coils of said spring terminate respectively in upper and lower spring legs, said means securing the upper end spring coil to said runner head comprising a vertical hole in said lower cylindrical portion of said runner head for receiving said upper spring leg, said means securing the lower end spring coil to said runner body comprising a vertical hole in said runner body below said spring chamber for receiving the lower leg of said spring.

- 5. The invention as claimed in claim 4, including a plurality of spaced vertical holes beneath said spring chamber in said runner body to selectively receive said lower spring leg to facilitate assembly of said runner body with said runner head.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 154,753 9/1874 Gano 135-43 3,102,966 9/1963 Hansen 287-l26 X 3,157,186 11/1964 Hammer 135-43 X HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Examiner.

L. J. SANTISI, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN UMBRELLA RUNNER ASSEMBLY HAVING SELF-CONTAINED LOCKING MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY SECURING THE ASSEMBLY TO AN UMBRELLA SHAFT COMPRISING A RUNNER HEAD ADAPTED FOR SLIDING PASSAGE ALONG THE SHAFT, A CYLINDRICALLY COILED TORSION SPRING IN OVERLYING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SHAFT, SAID SPRING IN A RELAXED CONDITION HAVING AN INTERNAL DIAMETER SMALLER THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE SHAFT, A RUNNER BODY ADAPTED FOR SLIDING PASSAGE ON THE SHAFT, A LOWER CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF SAID RUNNER HEAD, MEANS FOR SECURING A FIRST END COIL OF SAID SPRING TO SAID LOWER CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF SAID RUNNER HEAD, SAID RUNNER BODY ADAPTED TO OVERLIE SAID SPRING AND SAID LOWER CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF SAID RUNNER HEAD, SAID RUNNER BODY HAVING A CYLINDRICAL SPRING CHAMBER ADAPTED TO OVERLIE SAID SPRING IN CLOSELY SPACED RELATION THERETO, MEANS ON SAID RUNNER BODY FOR SECURING A SECOND END COIL OF SAID SPRING THERETO, AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID RUNNER HEAD AND RUNNER BODY LIMITING ROTATION OF SAID RUNNER BODY WITH RESPECT TO SAID RUNNER HEAD, SAID LATTER MEANS INCLUDING A CIRCUMFERENTIAL SLOT EXTENDING PARTIALLY AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF THE LOWER CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF SAID RUNNER HEAD, AND A COG ON 